Sawnee Elementary
February 2023 Newsletter
A Note from Mrs. Davis
Dear Sawnee Families,
We are excited for the Mother/Son Date Night on February 25th (flyer below). It is going to be a great night filled with fun activities for our families and we can't wait to see everyone. A huge thank you to our PTO and volunteers for their time and organization of this event.
In January, we kicked off the Watch Dog Dads program. It has been wonderful to have our volunteers in the car rider line and in the classrooms. I'm not sure who is more excited - our volunteers or students! If you are interested in volunteering, please reach out to Mr. Michael Vorick for details.
The Fifth Grade Committee is busy planning fun activities for the end of year for our students. If you have a fifth grader, stay tuned for more details to come. And on the other end, we are gearing up to welcome our new kindergartners. Registration information is included in this newsletter and we will be sending home more details as the dates get closer.
Please remind the students to check the Lost and Found in both buildings. Items from recess have a way of making into the buildings, regardless of the grade level. We want these items to find their home.
As always, if you have any questions, concerns, or just want to give feedback, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. It is a pleasure to work with all of our families.
Sincerely,
Kimberly Davis
Principal
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What's Happening at Sawnee?
7 Mindsets - Passion First
The Passion First Mindset teaches us that we are all unique expressions of human existence. It’s vital to find out what our individual strengths and talents are so that we might connect them with our goals and visions for the future. In this mindset, we work with students to understand their unique gifts, their skills and strengths, and how to share them with the world to the maximum extent possible. Not only will they explore their interests, they will begin to identify their core values and what they stand for. The next step is helping them learn how to make their dreams into reality, tapping into both the courage and perseverance needed to overcome any challenges they encounter in pursuit of the lives they desire.
The 4 critical components of Passion First includes:
1) Focus on Strengths
2) Explore your Interests
3) Make a Stand
4) Be Authentic
Click here to learn more!
2023-24 Kindergarten
Make your appointment TODAY!
2023-24 Kindergarten Registration
Kindergarten registration for the 2023-24 school year will begin on January 9, 2023. To register for the 23-24 school year kindergarten students need to be 5 years old by September 1, 2023. Each school will have a specific week to register between January and April prior to the kindergarten student starting school in August. Registration appointments take place at the FCS Technology Center, which is located at 1140 Dahlonega Highway, Cumming.
K Registration Dates for Each School HERE!
Car Line Procedures
Please review the Car Line Procedures. Please follow the blue arrows all around the back of the building to ensure the safety of all cars and students.
Yearbook Information
The 22 -23 Sawnee yearbooks are on sale!
You can go to www.balfour.com to order today! Starting February 1st the price increased to $35. Online sales will close on March 7th. If you have any questions feel free to reach out to Mrs. Turner (bturner@forsyth.k12.ga.us) or Mrs. DuHamel (cduhamel@forsyth.k12.ga.us)
Deadline to order is March 31, 2023.
Kids Heart Challenge
We are so excited that our Kids Heart Challenge Event has finally kicked off this week! You should have received an envelope in your child’s folder already that explains our Kids Heart Challenge event. This envelope is also where you can turn in any cash or check donations that you get for our event. (All checks need to be made out to the American Heart Association.) It does not cost anything to register, and you can do that by clicking here! All donations will be due by March 3rd. Thank you so much for helping our school have a successful event and helping those in our community have healthy hearts! Click here to register.
Family Connect Choice Board
Important Information from the Office
Please send in excused Doctor or Parent notes no later than 5 days after the missed school day.
Reminder to make sure you have your I.D. with you when coming into the school or checking out your child.
~Thank You from the Sawnee Office Staff
Cafeteria News
Cruciferous Vegetables
February is cruciferous vegetable month! That includes cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, brussel sprouts, kale, and other greens. They are called that because of the shape of their flowers. The four petals resemble a cross.
Broccoli, like oranges are high in vitamin C! One cup of broccoli has the same amount of vitamin C as an orange.
Did you know Cauliflower is white because it's leaves shield it from getting the sun it needs to turn green?
Cabbage has enough vitamins and minerals to support your immune system enough to help prevent colds and flu.
Clinic News
Our clinics are in need of boys underwear sizes 5-10. Thank you so much for your help with stocking our clinic! We so appreciate you!
We do ask that if we send your child home in clinic clothes, please wash that item and return it to the clinic. All underwear that goes home with a student is yours to keep 😊
**Please remember Forsyth County School’s policy that students are NOT to return to school until fever free, diarrhea, and/or vomiting has stopped for a full 24 hours without medication
Just a reminder that all medication needs to be brought to the clinic by a parent/guardian. Students are not permitted to carry medication at school per Forsyth County School Policy.
Forsyth County Schools are in need of Substitute Nurses. If you are a RN or LPN and would like more information, please contact Nurse Robyn or Nurse Kate. We would love to have you!
We always welcome your calls and emails. Nurse Robyn (PreK-1) RFreeze@forsyth.k12.ga.us and Nurse Kate (2-5) F36415@forsyth.k12.ga.us
Counseling Information
"The Place" Food Pantry
Need help with food? Order with a simple click-list when you qualify. Click application link to apply online or for more information call 770-887-1098.
https://www.theplaceofforsyth.org/food-app-spaneng.html
~ School Attendance is very important to the success of each student.
Sawnee Elementary has a “Strive for Less than Five” unexcused absence per year policy. We support every student in reaching his/her greatest potential and encourage parents to support children in maximizing academic instruction opportunities. Some of the potential consequences of absenteeism are listed below. We understand that injuries and illness occur. As such, parents should send in a doctor's note for necessary absences.
- Contact Meagan Soles at 770-887-6161 ext: 772108 or email at f41281@forsyth.k12.ga.us
STEM
In STEM, students are learning about snowflakes and are having an opportunity to explore their designs using geo boards and Keva planks. Students continue to enjoy their technology by utilizing ipads to control DASH robots and Spheros. Second graders are even learning about stop motion animation. In addition to learning about the world around them and technology they get to watch strawberries grow in our hydroponic Grow Wall. Our chickens are staying warm in their cozy coop. A special thank you to LOI for installing irrigation inside our greenhouse! We can’t wait to see what will grow this spring! We continue to need volunteers over breaks to care for chickens and the greenhouse, please be on the lookout in early spring for emails to signup to volunteer! We would love to have help with some supplies for our STEM and Computer Science Class – we are in need of tissues and Clorox wipes!
Greenhouse
Chicken Coop
Strawberries
Computer Science
Sawnee PTO
2022-2023 Board Members
President- Taylor Milburn
VP Fundraising - Cheryl Ewell
VP Hospitality & Events - Melissa Fagan
VP Family Engagement - Jenny Morgan
Treasurer- Becca Lopez
Secretary- Nicole Hale
*Date Nights are Back!
We are so excited to be hosting our Mother/Son and Father/Daughter date nights again! For those of you that were able to attend last year, our format will be very much the same this year. We love starting new traditions! You can expect various local vendors to bring their "craft" onto school property for a night of interactive fun with your little one(s). Food vendors will be onsite too, so come hungry! Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by visiting sawneeptoevents.eventbrite.com. Please feel free to email us at sawneeptoboard@gmail.com with any questions.
*Spirit Nights
We continue to anxiously await the opening of Cumming City Center to start our monthly spirit nights up again. If you or someone you know has a restaurant that would like to partner with us before then, please let us know!
5th Grade Activities
We are so excited to be partnering with our amazing 5th grade teacher team for some fun opportunities to celebrate our 5th graders this year! The PTO will be organizing yard signs so if you're interested, please keep an eye on our social media pages for updates. Your teachers have lots of fun things planned so don't miss reading those important emails!
* Easy Ways to donate to Sawnee- Did you know that you can connect your everyday purchases to Sawnee to give back to the school without even thinking about it?
Click here for info on how to connect your Amazon account
Click here for info on how to connect your Kroger account
Contact us: sawneeptoboard@gmail.com
* Teacher Supply Drive- This year we've set out to stock the teacher's supply closet and we need your help! We'd love to provide them with the supplies they use the most throughout the year and we've made it easy to chip in! Visit the Amazon Wishlist to take a look at what they need and all orders will be shipped directly to the school. If you'd prefer to purchase supplies on your own, you can drop off at the front office of building 1!
Teacher Supply Drive Wish list link: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3USYYD58FFKSD?ref_=wl_share
Quick Links
My Payments Plus - online payment program. If you have any questions, contact Allison Taylor
Celebrating Birthdays with Ice Cream - Birthday Ice Cream Packs are available for $25 for the entire class including the teacher. These must be ordered 3 school days prior to the day you want the ice cream pack served. You may bring in store bought treats for your child’s birthday, but we cannot allow homemade items due to student allergies. The ice cream packs may be purchased under "activities" through www.mypaymentsplus.com. If you have questions, you may contact Allison Taylor by email at aytaylor@forsyth.k12.ga.us. We look forward to celebrating your child's birthday.
Sawnee Zone Information - Our Sawnee Zone pick-up location is located in the front of our Back Building. Please make sure to bring your ID with you as we will follow all procedures that we do for student check-outs. For any questions or more information about Sawnee Zone, please click here.
Important Dates to Know
Feb. 2-4 - FOCAL Center - Mama Mia Musical @ 7:30p
Feb. 5 - FOCAL Center - Mama Mia Musical @ 2p
Feb. 9-11 - FOCAL Center - Mama Mia Musical @ 7:30p
Feb. 12 - FOCAL Center - Mama Mia Musical @ 2p
Feb. 17 - No School - Student/Staff Holiday
Feb. 20 - No School - Student/Staff Holiday
Feb. 21 - No School - Student Holiday
Feb. 25 - Mother/Son Night
Mar. 2 - LSC Meeting 2p
Mar. 9 - Early Release Day @ 12:30p
Mar. 10 - No School - Student Holiday
Mar. 11 - Father/Daughter Night 5:30-8p
Partners In Education
Caddyshack Golf Carts of Georgia
World Champion Tae Kwon Do
At Home Medical
Mathnasium of Coal Mountain
Dulce Luna's Mexican Tavern
4335 Bethelview Rd. Suite 120 Cumming, Ga. 30040
770-205-0079
Jason Hipps Homes
Moohan Martial Arts Academy
Dental Town
Troncalli Subaru
DOJO
Foam South
Southern Skies Doodles
In the Community
We are also working on setting up our Instagram account and will be coming very soon!
Contact Sawnee Elementary
Website: http://forsyth.k12.ga.us/sawneeelementary
Location: 1616 Canton Highway, Cumming, GA, USA
Phone: 770-887-6161
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SawneeES/
Twitter: @SawneeElem